Fire-resistant partition screens for electric vehicles: fire protection in car parks
The expansion of electric mobility is completely transforming infrastructure: public and private car parks, charging stations, dealerships and transport fleets all need to adapt to a new reality. This evolution brings with it a critical challenge for safety and maintenance managers: how to mitigate damage in the event of a battery fire.
Lithium-ion batteries can undergo a process known as thermal runaway. When this failure occurs, the fire can develop explosively, reach extreme temperatures very quickly and become extremely difficult to extinguish. The major risk is that intense thermal radiation may eventually compromise nearby vehicles and the building structure itself.
To meet this growing market need, fire-resistant partition screens are emerging as an effective passive protection solution for compartmentalising risk areas and preventing more serious incidents.
WHAT ARE THESE THERMAL BARRIERS FOR EVs AND HOW DO THEY WORK?
Fire-resistant partition screens are flexible curtains or panels manufactured from high-temperature technical fabrics, designed to withstand direct fire exposure and limit heat transfer.
Rather than constructing costly rigid walls, these textile barriers can be strategically installed between parking spaces or around charging stations. In the event of a fire, the screen is deployed, either manually or automatically, to isolate the affected vehicle. Although they do not replace fire suppression systems such as sprinklers, their containment and compartmentalisation function is vital in helping prevent fire from spreading throughout a car park.
OPERATIONAL BENEFITS OF FIRE-RESISTANT PARTITION SCREENS IN CAR PARKS
Implementing this type of passive protection can provide significant value to any facility with a high concentration of electric vehicles:
- Preventing the domino effect: Physical separation helps prevent flames and thermal radiation from igniting vehicles parked in neighbouring spaces.
- Structural protection: By containing the source of the fire, heat exposure to critical elements such as columns, ceilings and cable trays is drastically reduced, helping minimise repair costs following an incident.
- Supporting emergency response: Keeping the fire confined allows firefighters to assess the situation more safely and apply the appropriate cooling protocols more quickly.
- Maximum flexibility and space efficiency: As textile systems, they are lightweight and easy to retract. They can also be made to measure, adapting to virtually any architectural configuration without the need for major building works.
STRATEGIC APPLICATIONS: BEYOND CONVENTIONAL CAR PARKS
The versatility of textile compartmentalisation makes it possible to apply this solution in industrial sectors where space is limited and the risk of fire spread is high:
- Maritime transport and Ro-Ro vessels
The maritime sector faces major challenges when transporting EVs. Installing partition screens on cargo decks makes it possible to compartmentalise vehicle stowage areas. If a vehicle catches fire at sea, the barrier can isolate the affected area, helping protect passengers, other vehicles and the integrity of the vessel. - Corporate fleets and rapid-charging stations
Facilities where dozens of electric vans or cars charge their batteries simultaneously, often overnight, require safe physical separation between vehicles to protect the fleet investment. - Workshops and quarantine areas
Authorised service centres and workshops handling damaged or potentially compromised batteries need safe quarantine areas. A perimeter fire-resistant barrier provides a quick and cost-effective way to isolate the vehicle from the rest of the workshop.
WELS2: TEXFIRE'S FIRE-RESISTANT TECHNICAL FABRIC FOR COMPARTMENTALISATION
At Texfire, we continuously research new applications for our technical fabrics, adapting them to the challenges posed by electric mobility. As a result of this work, we recommend the use of WELS2 fire-resistant fabric, one of the most advanced and reliable products in our range.
WELS2 is designed to withstand extreme temperatures, repel splashes and act as a highly effective thermal shield against direct fire exposure. Taking advantage of its excellent mechanical properties, Texfire provides the design, development and bespoke manufacture of fire-resistant partition screens.
With our own manufacturing facilities, we can customise the dimensions, anchoring systems and curtain configuration to match the exact geometry of each project.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ)
Do fire-resistant partition screens extinguish an electric vehicle fire?
No. They are a passive fire protection system. Their purpose is to create a thermal barrier that helps contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other vehicles or infrastructure, providing emergency services with valuable time to intervene.
Can they be adapted to any car park or industrial building?
Yes. This is one of their main advantages over rigid solutions. Because they are textile systems, Texfire can manufacture them to measure, adapting them to ceiling height, parking-space layout and the specific requirements of each facility.
DO YOU NEED TO PROTECT YOUR INFRASTRUCTURE AGAINST THERMAL RISKS?
Prevention is one of the most cost-effective investments you can make. If you manage a car park, shipping company, commercial fleet or EV charging station, the risk of thermal runaway should be included in your safety plan.
Contact Texfire's technical team to discuss your requirements. We will assess your project, advise you on the capabilities of WELS2 fabric and design a textile compartmentalisation solution tailored precisely to your facility.